23 Oct 2024

P.S. Re: Blaming Bibi First, by Eli Lake, Commentary Magazine. 158(3):28-31, 2024 Oct.

…

To the Editor:

In his otherwise excellent article, Eli Lake made this statement, “Jewish tradition demands that a Jew must do whatever he can to free Jewish hostages.”  This idea forms the basis on our side for much, if not most, public discussions and policy choices concerning this distressing topic.

But it is not correct.

In his compendium of Jewish Law, the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides (Rambam) – relying on Gittin 45a – gives clear limits and explains why there are limits:

We do not redeem captives at exorbitant ransom “so that enemies will not pursue people to hold them captive.”  (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Matnot Aniyim [The Laws of Gifts to the Poor], Chapter 8, Halakha 12.)

Recent events demonstrate the truth of this ancient insight.  Mr. Lake ably summarized the deal to free the abducted soldier, Gilad Shalit: Israel released 1,027 prisoners, 280 of whom were serving life sentences, thereby “replenishing the ranks of Hamas leadership [including] Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of October 7”.

Israel overpaid and, as Jewish Law warns us, our enemies pursued thousands more people to murder, rape, mutilate, wound, and hold captive.

Two inspiring examples demonstrate remarkable commitment to this principle.  In 1286 C.E., the great Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg, was taken hostage by soldiers of King Rudolph I of Habsburg.  Rabbi Meir’s community began to raise large sums to ransom him, but the Rabbi refused – because he could not allow overpayment, even for himself.  After nearly eight years, Rabbi Meir died in captivity.

The second example is current: Ditza Or, whose son Avinatan is being held hostage by Hamas, co-founded the Tikvah Forum as a Religious-Zionist alternative to the main hostage advocacy group.  Ms. Or has publicly stated, “I love my son more than anything else, but I’m not willing for other children to pay with their lives in exchange for him.”  Members of the group have opposed freeing Arab-Islamist terrorists in exchange for the release of their children.  It would be overpaying.  Could you or I do such a thing when a close relative is being held captive?  Their commitment and sacrifice are breathtaking. 

Haviv Retig Gur stated the overall problem in the Call Me Back podcast of 2 May 2024:“It feels like the decision is between the hostages whose names and faces we know and future hostages whose fate we are guaranteeing.”

Jewish tradition values today’s hostages – and tomorrow’s, heaven forbid – by allowing redemption, but within limits.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    Kevin Jon Williams, M.D.
                                    Professor of Medicine
                                    Temple U Medical School

Sources:

1. https://www.sefaria.org/Gittin.45a.5?lang=bi
2. https://aish.com/excruciating-choices-rabbi-meir-of-rothenburg-and-the-israeli-hostages/
3. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/history/articles/eitam-henkin-meir-of-rothenburg
4. https://www.instagram.com/jewishbreakingnews/reel/C3THt1UOrmv/?hl=en
5. https://www.timesofisrael.com/an-ideological-minority-of-parents-of-hostages-held-by-hamas-oppose-negotiations/
6. https://www.tapesearch.com/episode/israel-s-sophie-s-choice-with-haviv-rettig-gur/VikRrMcihaihyViymnU8Y9